Galena

What galena is

Galena, also called lead glance, is lead sulfide and the most important ore of lead, as well as a source of silver. It is one of the most common sulfide minerals. It crystallises in the cubic system, as cubes and octahedra, with a bright metallic lustre and a perfect cubic cleavage: knock it and it breaks into smaller cubes.

With a specific gravity around 7.5, galena is one of the heaviest common minerals. When it weathers near the surface it gives the lead for the minerals collectors love: cerussite, anglesite, vanadinite, wulfenite.

Galena in Morocco, and the fake galena geodes

Galena is the reason the Mibladen district near Midelt was mined from 1912 to 1975, and it is still dug by hand there today. Touissit in the northeast is another lead-zinc district.

Morocco is also known for a fake: the galena geode. French Wikipedia describes how they are made: a pottery shell is studded with match ends, coated so that galena-like points form, then painted black outside and white on the rim. They are sold widely to tourists. Natural galena forms cubes and octahedra, not spiky geode linings; a 'galena geode' with uniform needle points and a perfectly round shell should be treated as manufactured.

What galena costs: price data from October 2026

Asking prices read on 28 October 2026.

Safety and care

Galena is about 87% lead. It is safe to handle and display: wash your hands afterwards, never ingest it or put it in water you will drink, and never cut, grind or heat it. Keep it away from children and pets.

Galena tarnishes dull grey over time. Clean it dry with a soft brush; do not use acids.

Questions collectors ask